Shoe vamp filler



Patented July l1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE VAllP' FILLERCharles A. Volz, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 9, 1936, Serial No. 67,940

3 Claims.

This invention relatesto a shoe Vamp filler.

An object of the invention is Vto provide a shoe vamp filler which willprevent wrinkles in the upper of the shoe vamp from forming roughnesseson the inside of the shoe, and thus avoid the pinching and discomfortordinarily caused by these wrinkles. Another object is to provide a shoevamp ller of such character as to cause the passage of air therethrough,so that the shoe may be ventilated and the feet less likely to perspire.

It is common knowledge among al-l wearers of shoes that in the processof walking the shoe bends and the leather wrinkles or doubles on topwhere the bend takes place. This dou'ble or wrinkle presents a roughuneven surface, and the roughnesses` and creases are ordinarilytransmitted through the shoe lining and produce uneven pressures againstthe foot, causing great discomfort, blisters, callouses, etc.

Applicant has overcome this trouble by the use of a highly resilientrubber filler inserted between the upper and the lining of the vamp.This rubber ller yields to the roughnesses and wrinkles of the upper andtransmits an even pressure on the inside of the shoe, thus providinggreater comfort for the wearer. Numerous other advantages will appear asthe specification proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;Figure 2, a sectional view taken at line 2 of Figure l, showing therelative position of the filler with respect to the upper and the liningof the shoe vamp; Figure 3, a sectional view showing the shape of thefiller and lining when the upper is wrinkled; and Figure 4 a plan Viewof a modification showing a ller of different shape.

In the embodiment illustrated by Figures l, 2, and 3, the ller iscomprised of a front portion A, 40 and wing portions W1 and W2. Over thesurface of the filler are spaced perforations I Il. As shown in Figures2 and 3, the filler is disposed between the upper of the shoe vamp I Iand the lining I2.

The filler should be made of some highly resilient material, preferablysponge rubber, which has a reasonably close grain. If desired, otherresilient materials may be used. Preferably, the filler should have anapproximately convex cross section, having its center portion ofgreatest thickness, and both sides of the filler tapered toward theedges as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. It has been found that athickness of about 1/8 inch at the center portion and ,1 6 inch or lessat the edge is satisfactory, but other thicknesses may be used. Thetapered or feather-edge may be CIK drawn to as thin an edge as may bepracticable. In this preferred construction each side of the filler hasa substantially convex surface and is tapered to provide thefeather-edge.

The front portion A is adapted to be placed at the top part of the vamp,the edge I3 toward the toe of the shoe, and the edge I4 toward the lacedportion of the shoe. The filler extends downwardly at its sides and theedges of the wings, I and I6, are sewed or lasted with the upper at thewelt of the shoe.

The size and spacing of perforations IIJ may be as desired, but theyshould not be so large as to be perceptible through the shoe lining. Inthe illustrations given the perforations are shown only on the forwardportion, 'but it is understood that they may be placed in any part ofthe filler as is desired.

The modification shown in Figure 4 is of the same general constructionas the preferred embodiment with the exception that here the wings areomitted and the filler has a somewhat elliptical shape. This form of theinvention is adapted to be placed below the lining. It is particularlyadapted to be attached by means of adhe- `sive or cement to the liningof the shoe, and is easily inserted by a repairman even after the shoehas been worn. Either the modification or the preferred form may beprovided with a coating of adhesive for attachment to the upper orlining.

'I'he operation of this filler is illustrated in Figure 3. As the shoebends in walking the upper I I becomes wrinkled and irregular. But thefiller, being highly resilient, allows the depressions of the wrinklesto sink into the ller, and a practically even pressure is felt on theunder side. Thus, the lining I2 is seen to follow the smooth outline ofthe under surface of the filler. When the wrinkles in the upperdisappear, the ller then resumes its original shape as in Figure 2,still leaving the lining in smooth outline. It is understood, of course,that the ller is free to accommodate itself to the general curvature andoutline of the vamp.

The perforations III aid in Ventilating the shoe as it is worn. Withoutthese perforations such a ller might cause the feet to perspire with theaccompanying discomfort to the wearer. In the present construction theperforations provide passages for air and operate to cause air to movethrough the passages. As the filler is highly resilient and in the actof walking is alternately compressed and expanded, the volume of airwithin the perforations is being changed. This change in the volume ofair within the perforations tends to force a movement of the air and aidin the ventilation of the shoe.

By providing better ventilation this ller helps to prevent perspiring ofthe feet and the accompanying burning discomfort. But in case the feetdo perspire, a further advantage of the rubber ller is that it keeps theperspiration from reaching and attacking the upper of the shoe.

Another advantage obtained by this construction is that by allowing thewrinkles to be absorbed in the resilient material, the leather of theupper is not so hard pressed Where it is doubled, which makes it lesslikely to crack and break at the creases.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understandingonly, and no unnecessary limtations should be understood therefrom, butthe appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, inview of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A shoe vamp ller comprising a piece of close grained sponge rubberadapted to be inserted between the upper and the lining of a shoe Vamp,said rubber piece including a forward portion and wings projectingrearwardly from each side, said forward portion adapted to extend acrossthe top of the vamp and said wings adapted to extend to the sides andsoles of the shoe, said rubber piece being provided with spacedperforations and having a thickness of approximately 1/8 inch near itscenter and less than le inch at its edge.

2. In a shoe, having a vamp which includes an 'Y upper and a lining, apiece of close-grained sponge rubber extending across the front portionof said Vamp and between said upper and said lining, said rubber piecebeing attached to said vamp at the welt of the shoe.

3. In a shoe, a vamp comprising an upper and a lining, a piece ofresilient rubber having a general shape the same as the upper of saidvamp and providing wings extending along the sides of the vamp, theedges of said wings being sewed to said upper and lining at the welt ofthe Shoe.

CHARLES A. VOLZ.

